Switch for dirigible lights



Nov. 20, 1934. c. sKLAREK SWITCH FOR DIRIGIBLE LIGHTS Original Filed Oct. l1, 1950 Patented Nov. 20, 1934 l UNITED 'fs-,TATESE- PATENT-'-omas I Y. .i M 1,981,204' ,K l 'I SWITCH FOR DIRIGIBLELLIGHTS 'Y Clifford zsklarelr, Los Angeles, Calif., assignor4 to, y' f I i International Spotlight Corporation, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois *y Original application-October 11, 1930, SeriallfNo. 487,975, now Patent No. 1,921,785, `August 8,

iasaseriai No. 680,207

a claims. (c1. 20o-157) This invention 4relates to improvements in switches for dirigible lights, the present application being a division of my application 487,975, filed October 11, 1930, now Patent 1,921,785, grant- 5 edAugust 8, 1933.A y

The present invention has particular reference to a manually-controllable electric switch on the inner end of a dirigible light of that type shown in my above identified pending application and as illustrated also my prior Patent 1,906,489, issued May 2, 1933. Dirigible lights of the type referred to comprise, in their broadest aspects, an outer head housing on which is rotatably mounted a lamp casing; an inner handle housing, the two housings being united rigidly by a tubular structure; an operating handle Vrotatably mounted on thehandle housing; suitable operating mechanism between the handle and the lamp casing for effecting universal movement of 20 the latter; and an electric control switch on the handle housing in such proximity to the operating handle proper that the switch may be readily operated to turn on or'oii, the light bulb in the lamp casing.

One object of the present invention is to provide, in a dirigible light of the type indicated, an eiiicient electric switch comprised of few parts relatively inexpensive to manufacture and such that the Switch may be readily applied to the 30 handle housing or removed therefrom for repairs or inspection, without disturbing or disassembling any of the other parts ofthe light mechanism.

More specically, an object of the invention is to provide an electric switch for the purpose and in the location hereinbefore set forth, which switch.v comprises, essentially, a stationary lead in block of insulated material and a rotor likewise of insulated material for making and breaking the circuit, said two essential parts being so designed and assembled that they may readily be placed in position and removed from the handle housing of the dirgible light with a minimum of eiort and without the aid of special tools.

Other objects of the invention will more clearly appear from the description and claims hereinafter following.

In the drawing forming a part of this specilication, Figure l is a broken part elevation, part sectional View of a dirigible light showing one form of the invention incorporated therein and its relation to associated parts of the light. Figure 2 is an enlarged detail sectional View illustrating more specifically the construction of the improved electric switch. Figures 3 and 4 are deinto tight mesh with the gear 56.

tail sectional views corresponding tothe section lines 3 3 and 4--4 respectively of Figure 2.

Referring to the construction illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, a portion of the usual lamp casing is indicated at D, the same being rotatably mounted on the head housing A and the latter being rigidly connected through the tube 39 to the handle housing-designated generally by the reference character B. Ior the details of construction-by= meansof which the dirigible light may be mounted and rotation of the lamp casingl -D on Ithe head housingA effected', reference may be had to my said Patent 1,921,785.

Referring now more specifically tov the switch and associated parts at the inner orl operating end of the dirigible light, said handle housing B is preferably in the form of a casting having a main horizontal section 50 split and secured to the inner end'of said tubular connection 39 as by the-adjustable screw bolt 51. Depending from the horizontal section 50 is a hollow bearing section or extension 52, the latter having an' interior annular 'recess 53 providing a shoulder 54 near the bottomthereof. The'tubular connection 39 isextended within the housing Aand containsv within it a hollow shaft 55,'-the Elatter being extended inwardly of said connection 39 and made of square `or other y'non-circular cross section so as to receive thereon a vbevel gear 56, the latterr rotating with the shaft but being slidable or adjustable lengthwise thereon. Said gear 56 has journal section 57 rotatablev in corresponding journalbearinginthe housing Bc Rotatably mounted inthe depending section 52 of the handle housingisa driving bevel gear 58 meshing with the gear 56. Said gear 58 has a preferably integral depending shank 59 terminating in a pyramidal lower section 60 and over the extended end of which is fitted the handle proper E, the latter being nonrotatably but detachably secured thereto, as by a countersunk screw 61 threaded into the lower end of the gear shank 59. To compensate for inaccuracies of manufacture and to take up wear, one or more rshims 62 may be interposed between the upper end of the handle proper E and the lower end of the depending section 52 of the handle housing. To maintain the parts taut and to prevent backlash, a coill spring 63 is slipped over the shank 59 and interposed between the gear 58 and the shoulder 54, it being evident that said spring will normally urge the gear 58 upwardly To permit assembling of the gear 58 and its shank in the fet housing B, the latter is provided at the top thereof with an opening 64 of diameter equal to or slightly larger than that of the gear 58, said opening being normally closed by a sheet metal snap cover or cap 65 i Therighthand end of the housing B, as viewed in Figure 1, is open and is provided with diametrically disposed slots 66 and 67 of diierent width (see Figure 3) to receive endwise therein, two corresponding radially extending lugs68 and 69 of a lead-in block 70 made of bakelite or other suitable insulating material. Byy reason of the different size slots and lugs 66, 67,168 and 69, improper assembly of the lead-in block is thereby prevented. Said lead-in block is of generally circular form and centrally thereof has moulded therein a preferably brass combined binding post, bearing and contact element 71, the inner end of which is enlarged, as indicated at 72 and cen.

trally apertured to receive the stripped end 73 yof an electrical wire or conductor 74, the same being held by a binding screw 75. The other or righthand end of the element 7l is of reduced diameter, as indicated at 175, and forms a journal bearing for an insulated rotor or knob 76. To one side of its center, the lead-in block has also moulded therein a metal contact 77 to which is soldered the stripped end 78 of the lead in wire 79 which is entered through a suitable opening in the inner end of the housing B. .ls'willl be understood, said conductor 79 leads to a suitable source of electricity such as the battery of the car. The rotor 76 is moulded with a specially shaped recess as best shown in Figures 2 and 4. Said recess comprises two spaced circular portions 81-81 connected by a transverse recess 82 to thereby receive a specially formed spring which comprises two ,coils 83--83 with a connecting section 84 therebetween. The free end of one of the coils 83 seats over a button 85 which is so positioned as to be brought into and out of contact with the contact element 77 of the lead in block '70. The free end of the other coil 83 bears upon the section 175 of the contact niember 71 so that when the rotor 76 is in the position shown in Figure 2, the current passes from the lead in Wire 79-78 through the spring 83 to the fixed contact element 71 and thence fromthe latter through the conductor 'I3-74 which, as will be understood, is extended through the tube 39 and suitable connections made with the usual bulb in the lamp casing.

The' rotor 76 has an inner annular enlargement which forms a shoulder so that said rotor is held in assembled'position with the stationary block by means of a sheet metal cap or ferrule 91 in turn secured to the housing B by two screws 92-92 and which have their inner ends entered in recesses 93-93 in the lead in block so as to retain the latter also in proper position with respect to the housing B. To limit the rotative movement of the rotor 76, the latter is providedv with an arcuate recess 94 within which is extended a lug 95 formed integral with the lead in block 70, the angular throw being limited as will be evident from an inspection of Figure 4. With the construction shown and referring particularly to Figure 2, it will be evident that the spring 83-84 normally urges the rotor 76 outwardly or toward the right land will thereby create sufficient friction between the rotor and cap 91 as to hold the rotorin any angular adjusted position.

Although there has herein been shown and described what is now considered the preferred manner of carrying out the invention, the same is merely illustrative and all changes and modifications are contemplated that come within the scope of the claims appended hereto.

What is claimed is: v

1. In a dirigible light, the combination witha handle housing; of a switch mounted thereon, said switch including an insulated lead-in block having two relatively fixed spaced contacts, and an insulated rotor, the latter having two separated coil springs seated therein and in electrical communication with each other, one coil being continuously in contact with one of said contacts and the other adapted to make and break contact with the other of said contacts of the lead-in block upon rotation of the rotor.

2. In a switch of the character described, the combination with a supporting member; of an insulated lead-in block mounted on said supporting member, said'lcadin block having an axially located contact element provided with a projecting studand a second radially offset contact; an insulated rotor having an axial opening in which is journaled the stud, said rotor having a radially offset recess adapted to be brought in line with said radial offset contact; coil spring conductors disposed in said axial opening and offset recess of the rotor inr electrical communication with each other and constant communication with said axial stud contact of the lead-in block; cooperable projecting and recessed formations on the adjacent faces of the rotor and lead-in block arranged to limit the degree of rotation of the rotor with respect to theJlead-in block; and means for retaining therotor assembled with the lead-in block.

i CLIFFORD SKLAREK.- 

